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The Madrid region has suffered the brunt of the epidemic with at least 14,590 infections.

BRINK OF COLLAPSE

With hospitals on the brink of collapse, troops have set up a field hospital in Madrid's vast Ifema exhibition centre that has 1,500 beds but could be expanded to take in up to 5,500 people - making it the largest hospital in Spain.

With the funeral services overwhelmed, officials have commandeered the Palacio de Hielo ice skating rink to serve as a temporary morgue.

France became the fifth country to report more than 1,000 deaths on Tuesday. The virus killed another 240 people, bringing the total to 1,100.

A government body has now suggested the national lockdown imposed last week for an initial 15 days should last at least six weeks.

A statement by the council also said the lockdown was the only really efficient strategy at the moment and "needs to be strictly implemented". - AFP, REUTERS